Talk of an iPhone trademark and models may be more than just rumors and …

In the September 15th filing, Apple describes iPhone as "handheld and mobile digital electronic devices for the sending and receiving of telephone calls, faxes, electronic mail, and other digital data; MP3 and other digital format audio players."

Additional functionality beyond music playing includes personal information management and that of a "stand alone video game machine."

It sounds great, if it's true, but rumor sites have been touting the iPhone almost as long as the iTablet. However, unlike the mythical Tablet Mac, six-figure analysts are talking up the iPhone too. The latest prediction is from Jesse Tortora, an analyst with Prudential Equity Group. Via the International Business Times, it's being reported that two models of iPhones may be unveiled at the Macworld Expo in January.

"We have learned that one model will be a smart phone, including integrated keyboard, video and music capability, while the other model will be a slimmer phone with music capability. At least one of the models will include WiFi."

If that isn't enough to convince skeptics, remember the words of Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer at the Q3 conference call in July. When asked about media-player phones, Oppenheimer first was dismissive of the current generation of products, but he also said Apple was not "sitting around doing nothing" regarding the future.